COOKE, Dr. Stuart T.

Published 4:00 am, Monday, February 21, 2005

COOKE, Dr. Stuart T. - Died in Palo Alto after a long illness on January 26, 2005. He had taught history at the College of San Mateo for 37 years. His academic background included: B.A., Lafayette College; M.A., University of Pennsylvania; and Ph.D., University of Denver. Dr. Cooke was a native of Philadelphia. He had taught at the Valley Forge Military Academy and the University of Pennsylvania. He came to the West Coast in the 1950s to travel through many western states as a field editor for Oxford University Press. In 1964 he became a faculty member of C.S.M. where he taught American History, California History, and Western Civilization. He began an innovative course in San Francisco Cultural History which he co-taught with Bob Smith. For many years he could be heard weekly on a five-minute program, "On the Cultural Scene," which was broadcast on radio station KCSM. The program consisted of celebrity interviews and reviews of musical and art events. He also taught very popular extracurricular classes on opera appreciation. He was very tenderhearted and protective toward all animals. When he learned that one of his colleagues was feeding two feral cats who lived on campus, he offered help with purchase of food. Occasionally he drove to the college on his days off to make certain they had food. Dr. Cooke lived in Redwood City for 34 years. He is survived by his wife, Mary K. Cooke of Redwood City and by his son, Timothy R. Cooke of the San Diego area. There will be no memorial service at his request. It is his wish that donations in his memory be made to any animal welfare organization or to the San Francisco Opera.